Water has been found on asteroids Iris and Massalia in the main asteroid belt.
Our solar system not only contains planets and their moons, but is also full of comets and numerous asteroids. Astronomers believe that more than 1 million asteroids orbit the Sun, and it is assumed that all the water on their surfaces must have evaporated long ago. But some still have water, as a new study published in The Planetary Science Journal shows. According to Universe Today, scientists have discovered water for the first time, especially in two asteroids of the main asteroid belt, named Iris and Massalia.
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To detect water on the surface of Iris and Massalia, two asteroids in the solar system, scientists analyzed data from space observations conducted by the Stratospheric Infrared Astronomy Observatory (SOFIA), which ceased operations in 2022. This observatory was an ordinary aircraft equipped with a special telescope and other scientific instruments.
Important
The asteroid Iris has a diameter of 199 km and revolves around the Sun at a distance of 2.39 astronomical units. At the same time, the asteroid makes a complete revolution around the star in 3.7 Earth years. Asteroid Massalia has the same orbit but is 135 km in diameter.
Asteroids in the solar system vary slightly in chemical composition and structure. The rocks closer to the Sun consist mostly of silicate rocks and there is no water ice. There are icy asteroids far from the Sun. According to scientists, studying the distribution of asteroids in the solar system and their chemical composition helps understand how chemical elements were distributed in the solar nebula before planets and asteroids formed. Of particular interest to astronomers is the distribution of water on asteroids, which could improve our understanding of how water reaches Earth.
Understanding the distribution of water in the solar system will help scientists understand how water is distributed in other star systems and on planets within those systems, and will provide information on where to look for extraterrestrial life.
This isn’t the first time astronomers using the SOFIA observatory have discovered water beyond Earth. In 2020, the observatory found water on the Moon. Later, traces of water molecules were discovered on the Moon’s surface, equivalent to approximately 350 milliliters of water in one cubic meter of soil. According to the authors of the study, judging by the strength of the spectral lines, the volumes and abundance of water on the asteroids correspond to those found on the Moon.
Scientists have also analyzed data on two asteroids – Parthenope and Melpomene – but so far it is impossible to say for sure whether there is water on their surfaces and additional observations are needed. Scientists believe that SOFIA’s instruments lack the sensitivity to detect the spectral characteristics of water on these asteroids, if they actually exist.
To fully understand the distribution of water in the solar system, scientists plan to use the Webb Space Telescope, which has more sensitive infrared instruments.
As I already wrote FocusA city-destroying asteroid will pass by Earth on Valentine’s Day. The asteroid will come closer to the planet than any other dangerous space object in the last 120 years.
Source: Focus
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